Suspend council: local government inquiry

An inquiry into a local government in Perth has recommended that the council be suspended.

Local Government Minister John Castrilli said the inquiry's report, which he tabled in Parliament on Thursday, had found serious and long-term failures by the elected council.

"The findings of the inquiry are of significant concern to me and my priority is to ensure the City of Canning and its administration is acting in the best interests of its community," he said.

The inquiry was launched in February into the City of Canning after the mayor reported concerns over relationships between councillors and executive staff.

Local Government Minister John Castrilli ordered an inquiry be carried out by the Department of Local Government.

The inquiry found a number of examples of what it called "poor decision making and the adverse influence of the Mayor's Group in council decision making."

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"There has been a clear failure by council to ensure the City of Canning performs its functions properly," the report noted.

It said the council had seriously eroded its professional relationship with its administration.

"If the council were to remain in office the potential exists for further major problems to develop."

The report made mention of what it called a "close association" between Mayor Joe Delle Donne and a legal firm, Civic Legal.

It said he and Councillor Bruce Mason failed to disclose an interest that could reasonably be perceived to "adversely affect their impartiality" in relation to the making of a decision that involved the company.

Mr Delle Donne said while he was yet to see the report he understood that there were areas that the inquiry should have looked into that it did not.

He would not reveal what these were but called for a public inquiry in an open forum into the matter.

Mr Delle Donne said he would challenge the finding that he had a close association with Civic Legal and that he should have revealed a lunch bought for him by the company.

"I paid for the lunch," he said

"It was virtually a bowl of chips.

"If the minister is going to make a big deal about a bowl of chips, the minister has a big problem."

Mr Delle Donne said he was yet to be contacted by the Department of Local Government or the Local Government Minister in regard to the findings of the inquiry but was concerned to hear that it called for the suspension of the council.

The report, which will be considered by Local Government Minister John Castrilli, also suggested an inquiry panel be set up to report upon the "ability of the City of Canning to provide for the good government of the persons in its district."

Mr Castrilli said the state government would fully consider the inquiry report, its findings and recommendations before determining what appropriate action should be taken.